About Eudora Schools: District news

This illustration shows a conceptual elementary school in the location of the land acquisition.

Board approves site for new elementary school

Thursday, July 12, 2007

During their July 12 meeting, Eudora Board of Education members voted unanimously to approve the purchase of land in northeast Eudora for the proposed new elementary school. The property is approximately 46 acres of undeveloped land located south and west of the intersection of 10th and Peach streets.

Months of community input and property negotiations were involved in the decision. The purchase of the land is contingent on the successful passage of the bond in November.

“This land was an outstanding choice by the board,” said Superintendent of Schools Marty Kobza. “It clearly addresses the priorities that community advisory groups identified, and it is in a location that will serve both old and new Eudora well.”

In choosing a site for this new school, the board strongly took into account the opinions of the Community Advisory Committee, a group of 45 individuals representing diverse ages, occupations and interests. The committee’s overwhelming recommendation to the board was to locate a new grade school north of Highway 10, rather than building in the newly developed neighborhoods south of K-10.

This elementary school for students in first through fifth grades is the largest project on the $45 million bond proposed to voters. Fully equipped with technology and furnishings, this portion of the project is estimated to cost $27 million. The school would be built with a capacity of 200 students per grade, grouping individual classrooms into "neighborhoods" and "houses." Kobza explained that this type of a design helps ensure that every child feels connected, not only to his or her individual classroom and teacher, but also to a small community of children from the same grade.

The large plot of land will allow for the school building and recreational fields for recess and physical education, as well as well-planned parking and traffic patterns for students to be picked up and dropped off from private cars and district buses. The district’s plans also include a continuation of the bus shuttle service, in order to provide transportation to students across the community.

The architects are now completing the conceptual phase of design, working with principals and district administrators to be certain that the new building can support and enhance academic programs. Should the bond pass in November, the planning process will intensify and involve teachers and additional staff. If the project goes as tentatively planned, the new elementary school will open in the fall of 2009.

For a timeline of all the proposed projects, or to read more about what’s being planned at each of the buildings, look inside this issue of The Card. Visit www.eudoraschools.org/bond for more details about the proposals and financing plans.